Industry Digital Foundry: PC Games Should Label Console-Equivalent Graphics Settings

• A Digital Foundry viewer recently asked whether PC game developers should mark settings that match console versions.
• DF founder Richard Leadbetter fully supports the idea, explaining that many PC gamers wrongly assume "Ultra" settings are meant for current hardware when they are actually designed as a future-proofing option.

"The idea of 'Ultra' is to push a game’s systems to their theoretical limits, leaving room for future PC hardware.
Expecting today’s hardware to handle everything at max settings is unwise."
— Richard Leadbetter, Founder, Digital Foundry

Why Console Labels Would Help PC Gamers​

• Many games are primarily designed for consoles, and their settings are carefully optimized.
• Alex Battaglia believes that console-equivalent labels would reassure PC gamers that they aren't missing out if they don’t max out settings.

"If players knew that ‘Medium’ settings were equivalent to consoles, it would save them a lot of stress."
— Alex Battaglia, Digital Foundry

• Oli Mackenzie suggests that publishers might avoid labeling console settings to prevent negative comparisons, since some console versions run on low settings but still look great.
• However, he agrees that such labels would be particularly useful for multiplayer games, where developers aim to standardize performance across platforms.

"PS5 and Xbox Series are basically AMD-based PCs. It makes sense to use their settings as the default and reserve ‘Ultra’ for future-proofing."
— Richard Leadbetter, Digital Foundry

• Leadbetter believes that clearer developer transparency would encourage players to think twice before maxing out settings, preventing unrealistic performance expectations.